U.S. Army Rangers & Special Forces of World War II tells the story of the U.S. Army's elite Rangers and special forces largely through pictures. Never before has such an expansive view of World War II been offered in one volume. Furthermore, an extensive search of public and private archives unearthed an astonishing number of rare and never before seen images, some in color. Most notable are the nearly twenty exemplary photographs of Lieutenant Colonel William O. Darby's Ranger Force in Italy, taken by Robert Capa, who is considered by many to be the greatest combat photographer of all time. Complementing the period photographs are numerous color plates detailing the rare and often unique items of insignia, weaponry, and equipment that marked the soldiers whose heavy task it was to lead the way.

CMH 70-42. Army Special Publication. Discusses a variety of commando and guerrilla operations that were conducted on the plains of Europe and in the jungles of the Pacific to harass the Axis armies, to gather intelligence, and to support the more conventional Allied military efforts, yet their significance was a matter of dispute. Hogan examines the critical issues underlying special operations and shows how American leaders employed commandos - rangers in Army parlance - and guerrillas extensively, if not systematically, during the war. Other related products: World War II resources collection can be found here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/catalog/us-military-history/battles-wars/world-war-ii Nisei Linguists: Japanese Americans in the Military Intelligence Service During World War II --Print Paperback format can be found here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/008-029-00432-1 American Military History Volume 2: The United States Army in a Global Era, 1917-2008 --Print Hardcover format can be found here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/008-029-00525-5 Special Operations Forces Medical Handbook -- Looseleaf with binder format-- can be found here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/008-070-00810-6 --CD-ROM format can be found here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/008-070-00816-5 --ePub format available from Apple iBookstore and Google Play eBookstore. Please use ISBN: 9780160867194 to search this title through their platform(s).

This Leavenworth Paper is a critical reconstruction of World War II Ranger operations conducted at or near Djebel el Ank, Tunisia; Porto Empedocle, Sicily; Cisterna, Italy; Zerf, Germany; and Cabanatuan in the Philippines. It is not intended to be a comprehensive account of World War II Ranger operations, for such a study would have to include numerous minor actions that are too poorly documented to be studied to advantage. It is, however, representative for it examines several types of operations conducted against the troops of three enemy nations in a variety of physical and tactical environments. As such, it draws a wide range of lessons useful to combat leaders who may have to conduct such operations or be on guard against them in the future. Many factors determined the outcomes of the operations featured in this Leavenworth Paper, and of these there are four that are important enough to merit special emphasis. These are surprise, the quality of opposing forces, the success of friendly forces with which the Rangers were cooperating, and popular support.

From the deadly shores of North Africa to the invasion of Sicily to the fierce jungle hell of the Pacific, the contribution of the World War II Ranger Battalions far outweighed their numbers. They were ordinary men on an extraordinary mission, experiencing the full measure of the fear, exhaustion, and heroism of combat in nearly every major invasion of the war. Whether spearheading a landing force or scouting deep behind enemy lines, these highly motivated, highly trained volunteers led the way for other soldiers -- they were Rangers. With first-person interviews, in-depth research, and a complete appendix naming every Ranger known to have served, author Robert Black, a Ranger himself, has made the battles of WWII come to life through the struggles of the men who fought to win the greatest war the world has ever seen.

Covers the history of the U.S Army Rangers and the training required to be a member of this elite infantry corps.

This landmark study examines the nature and purpose of the U.S. Army Rangers over the past fifty years and shows how they have been used as scouts, raiders, assault troops, and elite infantry.